Machine for making box blanks



July 26, 1938.

A. L. ROSENMUND I 2,124,796 JM CHINE FOR MAKING BOX BLANKS Filed Feb. 23, 1937 '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 0 M mm mm V5 m L m u A July 26, 1938., A. L. ROSENMUND MACHINE FOR MAKING BOX BLANKS Filed Feb. 23, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 V IN VEN TOR. ALFRED L. Roam/vulva.

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Patented July 26, 1938 UNITED STATES MACHINE FOR MAKING BOX BLANKS Alfred L. Rosenmund, Rockaway, N. J., assignor to Stapling Machines 00., a corporation of Delaware Application February 23, 1937, Serial No. 127,051

5 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for use in making boxes, and particularly to machines for making wire-wound box blanks and parts thereof.

It is an object of the invention. to provide improved positioning devices to relate properly the box parts to be operated upon during their passage through the machine.

It is a further object of the invention to provide positioning devices for a box blank machine adapted to position in proper relationship cleats, side material, and reenforcing strips during the passage of such materials through the machine.

It is a further object of the invention to provide positioning devices for a machine of the character described which are adapted to position reenforcing strips on top of the side material of a box blank during passage of the material through the machine.

It is a further object of the invention to provide positioning devices in a machine of the character described which are adapted to position reenforcing strips beneath the side material and between the side material and the cleats.

The accompanying drawings disclose illustrative embodiments of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one product of the machine, namely, a wired box blank having exterior reenforcing strips located at potential corner edges of the completed box.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of another product of the machine, namely, a wired box blank having interior reenforcing strips located at potential corner edges of the completed box.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a typical wirebound box blank machine in which the positioning devices of this invention may be incorporated, certain parts of the machine being omitted for clearness of illustration.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of one form ofpositioning device embodying the invention.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the work-conveying chains of the machine shown in Fig. 3 equipped with positioning devices of the type shown in Fig. 4 and showing matematerials fora box blank of the type shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of an- 7 other form of positioning device embodying the invention.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the work-conveying chains equipped with positioning devices of the type shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged side elevation partly in section of a portionof one of the work-conveying chains and illustrating the mannerv in which the box parts are positioned thereon.

Referring to Fig. 1, the type of box blank there shown consists of two rows of cleats 1 preferably of resawed lumber, each row being arranged in end to, end foldable relationship; a sheet of side material 2 preferably of fibreboard adapted to bend at potential box corners; exterior reenforcing strips 3 preferably of bendable material such as fibreboard extending across the side material 2 at potential box corners; and binding wires 4 extending over the side material 2 and the reenforcing strips 3, the outside wires 4 being stapled to the strips 3, the side material 2, and the cleats l to unite the strips, the side material, and the cleats, and the intermediate wire 4 being stapled to the strips 3 and side material 2.

The box blank shown in Fig. 2 is similar to the box blank shown in Fig. 1 except that the reenforcing strips 3 are located beneath the side material 2 and between the side material 2 and the cleats I.

Referring to Fig. 3, the materials for the box blank are positioned in proper relationship to each other on endless conveyor chains 5 which are supported by guides 6. The conveyor chains 5 carry the materials beneath stapling mechanism 1 which staples the binding wires to the box parts and the box parts together.

As the present invention relates particularly to the positioning devices which are associated with the conveyor chains 5 to position the several box parts on said conveyor chains, no detailed description of the machineas a whole will be given. Such machines are well known in the art. An illustrative machine in which the positioning devices of this invention may be incorporated is shown in patent to O. C. Thompson No. 1,738,806 of December 10, 1929, reference to which is hereby made for a detailed description.

Referringnow to Figs. 4 and 5, each row of cleats l for the box blank is placed in one of the channel-shaped conveyors 5, the sheet of side material 2 is placed on top of the two rows of cleats l. and the reenforcing strips 3 are placed on top of the sheet of side material 2. The cleats I, the side material 2, and the reenforcing strips 3 are correctly positioned relative to each other by a plurality of positioning devices of the type shown in Fig. 4, said devices being adjustably secured to the conveyor chains 5 at proper intervals.

As shown in Fig 4, each positioning device consists of a block 8 provided with a channelshaped recess 9 adapted to fit over inner flange II) of the conveyor chain 5. Block B may be secured to flange ID by set screws Extending from block 8 and across the channel of conveyor chain 5 is a bar I2 which carries at its other end a block I3. Pivoted in the block I3 is a finger I4, the inner end of which normally lies above the bar I2. r

Positioning devices as just described are located opposite each other on each conveyor chain 5 at points corresponding to the potential corners of a box. The cleats I are placed in the channel-shaped conveyor chains 5 between bars I2 of adjacent positioning devices, the bars |2 being of appropriate thickness to space properly the cleat ends in foldable relationship. Each cleat end fits between the blocks 8 and I3 of a positioning device and is thus positioned laterally by those blocks. The sheet of side material 2 abuts at either side of the machine against blocks I3 and is thus positioned laterally by those blocks. The sheet of side. material 2 is positioned lengthwise the conveyor chains 5 by a block I5 located at the rear end of the sheet 2, which block I5 carries a fin I6 which engages the rear end of sheet 2.

The reenforcing strips 3 are positioned laterally and longitudinally of the conveyor chains 5 by the fingers I4 which enter notches or open ings |I formed in the reenforcing strips 3.

After the sheet of side material 2 has been positioned on the conveyor chains 5, a cam I8, carried by support 6, is contacted by a projection IQ of the finger I4. The cam I8 causes the finger |4- to be pivoted over onto the side material 2 as shown in Fig, 4. The notched reenfo-rcing strips 3 are then placed on the side material 2 so that the notches IT fit around finger 4.

As each outside binding wire of each box blank is located directly above and in line with the cleats I, the outside staplers I must operate close to the outside edges of the side material 2 and the reenforcing strips 3. Because the positioning finger |4 when in positioning position would pass directly beneath an outside stapler and might interfere with its operation, it is desirable to pivot the finger I4 out of its normal position as it passes beneath the stapler I. This pivoting movement is efiected by a cam 20 sesured to support 6 and which engages the downwardly extending projection I9 of finger I4 and swings the inner end of finger. I4 away from the box parts as they pass beneath the stapler I. As shown in Fig. 4, the cam 20 is so locate-d rela.- tive to the stapler I that the finger I4 is pivoted away from the reenforcing strip 3 after the first staple has been driven into the reenforcing strip 3. This first staple driven into the strip 3 secures it to the sheet of side material 2 and thus renders unnecessary further positioning by the finger I4; After the finger I4 passes the stapler it remains in nonpositioning position until it again reaches cam I8.

It will be noted that when the positioning device of Fig. 4 which has just been described is used the reenforcing strips 3 must be provided with notches I! to receive the positioning fingers I4. This notching of the strips 3 may be dispensed with by using the positioning device shown in Fig. 6. The device of Fig. 6 is similar to the device of Fig. 4, but is constructed. and arranged so that the finger which positions the reenforcing strip 3 engages the rear end of the strip instead of a notch formed in the strip. To accomplish this result a finger 2| is carried by an arm 22 which is pivoted to a block 23 carried by the inner end of bar I2. The arm 22 is pivoted on the block 23 to permit swinging the arm and the positioning finger 2| carried thereby toward and from the box parts on the conveyor chains 5. As shown in Fig. 8, the finger 2| is normally held in position against the rear end of a strip 3 by means of a spring 24. As the finger 2| approaches the stapler I and after one staple has been driven into a strip 3, the arm 22 carrying the finger 2| is swung away from the box parts by a cam 25 carried by chain support 6, which cam engages a downwardly extending projection 26 carried by the arm 22. This cam 25 may be extended as shown in Fig. 8 to hold the finger 2| away from the box parts until the completed blank has been removed from the conveyor chains 5.

In Fig. 9 is shown a positioning device for positioning the reenforcing strips 3 beneath the side material 2 and between side material 2 and the cleats This positioning device is similar to the positioning device shown in Fig. 4 except for the movable positioning finger I4 of the device shown in Fig. 4. A fixed finger 21 is secured to block I3 to enter notches I7 formed in the strips 3. As the finger 21 in the device shown in Fig. 9 lies below the sheet of side material 2, as shown in Fig. 10, it is unnecessary to move it when it passes beneath the stapler I, or when placing the sheet 2 on conveyors 5.

In Fig. '7 is shown a positioning device similar to that shown in Fig. 6 but adapted to position reenforcing strips 3 beneath the sheet of side material 2. The device of Fig. 7 is the same as the device of Fig. 6 except that the positioning finger 2| is located at the inner side of the arm 22 instead of on top of the arm 22. In other words, finger 2| is located at a lower point on the arm 22 to engage the rear edge of the interior strip 3.

While the side material 2 of the illustrative products consists of a single sheet of bendable material such as fibreboard, it will be understood that other types and forms of side material may be used, for example, sectional side material of veneer or resawed lumber. When sectional side material is used the sections of side material may be spaced one from another by fins 28 (shown in dotted lines in Figs. 4 and 6) which may extend upwardly from block 8 and from bar I2. These fianges 28 may be fastened to the illustrated blocks or may be a part of blocks especially adapted to convey sectional material. The reenforcing strips 3 may be positioned over potential box corners by the positioning devices herein described.

The positioning devices of this invention are particularly advantageous for use in the manufacture of. wire-bound fibreboard boxes. In such fibreboard boxes the binding wires have a tendency to bite into the fibreboard material at the corners of the box and disrupt or weaken the material at those points. A double thickness of fibreboard at the box corners increases the resist ance to the biting-in of the wires at the corners and greatly increases the strength of the box as a whole.

Heretofore it has been diificult to position the corner reenforcing strips during their passage through the machine. The present invention overcomes those difiiculties and provides a practical positioning device for such a purpose.

It will be understood that the invention is not tobe limited to the specific embodiment shown for purposes of illustration and that all of the inventive features need not be used conjointly as they may be variously embodied and used to advantage in various combinations as defined by the sub-joined claims.

I claim:

1. In a box-stapling machine, means to position and feed box parts including cleats and superimposed layers of side material and reinforcing strips, comprising a conveyor, positioning devices secured thereto, the positioning devices for the reinforcing strips being pivotally mounted on the conveyor to swing laterally out of or into the vertical plane of the conveyor, and means automatically to swing said latter positionlng devices.

2. In a box-stapling machine, means to position and feed box parts including cleats and superimposed layers of side material and reinforcing strips, comprising a conveyor, positioning devices secured thereto, the positioning devices for the reinforcing strips being mounted on the conveyor to move laterally out of or into the vertical plane of. the conveyor, and means automatically to move said latter positioning devices.

3. In a box-stapling machine, means to position and feed box parts including cleats, side material and reinforcing strips, comprising conveyors and positioning devices secured thereto, the positioning devices being constructed and arranged to position adjacent cleat ends in foldable relationship, to position side material on the cleats, and to position reinforcing strips on and across the side material, the positioning devices for the reinforcing strips being pivotally mounted on the conveyor to swing away from the conveyor when the side material is being positioned thereon and to swing back over the side material to position reinforcing strips thereon, and means automatically to swing said devices at selected times.

4. In a box-stapling machine, means to position and feed box parts including cleats, side material and reinforcing strips, comprising conveyors for the box parts, positioning devices secured to the conveyors and constructed and arranged to position adjacent cleat ends in foldable relationship, to position side material on the cleats, and to position reinforcing strips on the side material, the positioning devices for the reinforcing strips being movable laterally of the conveyor to permit moving said devices away from the conveyor when the side material is being positioned thereon and then moving said devices over on to the side material to position the reinforcing strips on the side material.

5. In a box-stapling machine, means to position and feed box parts including cleats, side material and reinforcing strips, comprising a conveyor for the box parts, positioning devices secured to the conveyor and constructed and arranged to position adjacent cleat ends in foldable relationship, to position reinforcing strips on the cleats, and to position side material over the reinforcing strips, the positioning devices for the reinforcing strips being mounted on the conveyor to move laterally out of and into the vertical plane of the conveyor, and means automatically to move said latter positioning devices.

ALFRED L. ROSENMUND. 

